Mum raises money forMum fundraises for Essex and Herts Air Ambulance who saved her son's life

A mother who witnessed her 10-year-old son being hit by a van, which left him unable to walk, has raised almost £4,500 for the Heli-Med team who saved his life.

Luca Vukovich was flown to Royal London Hospital by Essex and Herts Air Ambulance team after he sustained severely broken legs during the accident in June last year.

His mother, Rebecca Vukovich, has described the devastating affects it has had on her, her husband, David and their 13-year-old daughter, Francesca.

The 44-year-old said: "It has been a traumatic experience for the whole family. It is every parent’s worst nightmare.

"Luca is a very sporty boy and loved playing rugby. This accident left him unable to walk or run- he has had to learn how to walk all over again.

"It has been a pretty horrific year.

"Luca needed to be treated there and then because he was in the golden hour and how they treated him determined his recovery.

"They were fantastic. If he hadn’t been rescued by the Heli-Med team, he wouldn’t have been walking again today and his condition would have been a lot different. "

Luca is now walking and running again and has completed his own fundraisers with a sponsored silence and the Berkhamsted 10k run. The Vukovich family have so far raised more than £4,400 for the Essex and Herts Ambulance service.

Mrs Vukovich, who works at Formech in Harpenden, continued: "It wasn’t until after Luca’s accident that I realised the Essex and Herts Ambulance service do not receive any government funding.

"They must raise an incredible £5.3 million a year to sustain this and the cost of each rescue averages out at £2,500 per rescue.

"If I raise £5,000 I am not only paying back the team for Luca’s services, I am also helping someone else.

"This could happen to anyone."

The mother-of-two hopes to reach her £5,000 target and has organised a Deli night in Jamie’s Italian, St Albans, which took place on Thursday night to raise £235.

She will also complete the Great Wall of China 10 day trek in October.

Mrs Vukovich added: "It is going to be a real experience.

"The accident was such a traumatic experience, psychologically, and I think the trek will be quite therapeutic."

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